The Ventura County Animal Shelter is euthanizing more cats and dogs as it copes with an influx of unwanted animals. The shelter has only 145 kennels, so when more animals come in, officials have to create room for them. That means deciding which dogs and cats to euthanize. In years past, the shelter might have euthanized animals one or two days a week but now it’s four or five days a week. The recession has forced some people to give up their animals because they can no longer afford them or no longer have a home for them. At the same time, people may not be adopting because they don’t want the added expense of a dog or cat when their budget is tight. For complete story, click HERE

A British woman caught on tape throwing a cat into a trash bin pled guilty to a single charge of animal cruelty this week. The court fined her 250 pounds (just over $395) and ordered her to pay more than 1,100 pounds ($1,800) in costs.  Bale was also banned from keeping or owning animals for the next five years. For complete story, click HERE

Stephen Pierce, a prisoner in upstate New York, befriended a stray cat that was found in the yard one day.  Although leery at first, every day Pierce would come outside and call the kitten over and the two would spend time together. They formed a bond.  On the morning of Sept. 18, the kitten was found tangled up near the top of the yard’s razor wire fence.  Inmates and prison workers freed the kitten from the fence. His arm was badly lacerated, there were cuts across his face and all of his paws were injured. The Correctional Facility took the kitty to the local SPCA to treat his injuries. Pierce asked his wife, Michelle, to check on the kitten and she learned that the kitty, now named Rocky, was healing and would be able to make a full recovery.  After healing from his surgery Michelle brought Rocky home where he is getting to know the family’s three other housecats and awaits the arrival of Pierce, who will be released from prison in December. For complete story, click HERE

Much like Megan’s Laws, designed to keep sex offenders from striking again, now there’s a law created in the hope of preventing animal abusers from inflicting more cruelty.  Suffolk County, NY moved to create the nation’s first animal abuse registry, requiring people convicted of cruelty to animals to register or face jail time and fines.  More than a dozen states have introduced legislation to establish similar registries, but Suffolk County is the first government entity to pass such a law.  The Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will administer the database, to be funded by a $50 fee paid by convicted abusers. All abusers 18 or older must supply authorities with their address, a head-and-shoulders photograph and any aliases. Convicted abusers will remain on the registry for five years. Those failing to register face up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. The online list will be open to the public, so that pet owners or the merely curious can find out whether someone living near them is on it. Suffolk County legislator Jon Cooper is also pushing legislation that would bar anyone on the registry from buying or adopting a pet. For complete story, click HERE

Last week, the Memphis City Council passed a new law requiring that all pets be spayed or neutered.  The bill exempts dogs used for law enforcement, animals registered with the AKC and Cat Fancier Association, and those that based on a veterinarian’s recommendation should not be altered for health reasons. It also allows owners who want to keep their animals intact to pay a one-time $200 fee to get a permit to do so. For complete story, click HERE

OncoPet Diagnostics announced today that it has launched the commercialization of the first-ever cancer detection test for dogs. The RECAF blood test is a new test that can help veterinarians determine if companion animals have cancer. This test provides an indication of the likelihood (with a 90-95% confidence level) of the patient having a malignancy. For complete story, click HERE

Researchers at The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) have spent weeks poring over state and federal inspection reports, investigators’ photographs, and enforcement records received via the Freedom of Information Act to compile a list of some of the worst puppy mills in Missouri, known as “Missouri’s Dirty Dozen.” They all have atrocious violations of basic humane standards for the dogs in their care  The purpose of the report is to demonstrate current problems that could be addressed by the passage of Proposition B, the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act, which Missouri citizens will vote on in November.  For complete story, click HERE

An upstate NY dog breeder has admitted to federal inspectors that he killed more than 90 dogs through carbon monoxide poisoning. He trapped the animals in a box and stuck an exhaust pipe inside and then he used a stethoscope to check for a heartbeat before burying the 78 dogs and 15 puppies. New York State law explicitly prohibits this method of euthanizing dogs. The Sheriff’s office is investigating the criminal aspect of this case, but has not yet decided to file charges. Inspection records from the previous three years on this breeder also show major deficiencies in the care of animals. Most of those deficiencies required immediate corrections in order for the Black Diamond Acres to keep operating.

The USDA says the inspectors’ findings have now launched a larger, full scale investigation into Black Diamond Acres. Depending on the outcome of that investigation, the breeder could be fined. Yoder voluntarily gave up his license following the inspection.  For complete story, click HERE.

Tamira Thayne, founder of Dogs Deserve Better, an anti-chaining organization, has been tied to a doghouse Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m  on the steps of the Pennsylvania capitol since August 2, 2010.  Her goal is passing of the pending legislation that would make round-the-clock chaining of dogs illegal in Pennsylvania. A woman chained to a doghouse on a state capitol’s steps has made her a celebrity. Mail carriers have delivered over 60 letters to Thayne simply addressed to the lady chained to the dog house on the Capitol steps. For complete story, click HERE.

Kimberly Nizato, a former veterinary hospital employee accused of felony animal cruelty, has been ordered to stand trial. A trial arraignment will be held at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 28. Nizato was arrested on April 16, 2010 for allegedly starving her German Shepherd dog nearly to death. “Bosco” was removed from her home and placed into medical. When he arrived at the veterinary hospital he was near death. Yet within weeks of medical care, food and love, he rebounded, gaining weight and strength at an astounding speed. He has amazed medical professionals with his recovery. Since that day in April, Bosco became “Courage” and he gained nearly 50 pounds  and was adopted by one of his rescuers!  For complete story, click HERE